Pig farmers have again been urged to be vigilant after bird flu restrictions were put in place around a premises containing an 23,000 birds in mid-Suffolk.

An initial 10km Temporary Control Zone was put in place around the premises near Redgrave, following investigation into a suspected case of the H5N8 strain of bird flu, which has affected farms and wild birds across the country over the winter.

A number of the cases, including this latest one, if confirmed, have been in key pig producing parts of the country and pig farmers have been warned they could be drawn into costly restrictions, where pigs and poultry co-exist in close proximity.

Defra has advised that pigs sharing premises where avian flu has been detected in poultry could be culled if they are found to be carrying the disease.

Pig farmers could also be required to undertake costly cleansing and disinfecting procedures, if avian flu is found on premises where both pigs and poultry are present.

Previous confirmed cases over the winter include three linked premises on a commercial game farm in Lancashire, three separate poultry farms in Lincolnshire and backyard flocks in North Yorkshire and Carmarthenshire.

A number of pig farms have been caught up in restrictions put in place around these premises.

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The National Pig Association is the representative trade association for British commercial pig producers and is allied to the NFU and represents the pig interests of NFU members. National Pig Association, Agriculture House, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2TZ. Registered in England No. 3859242.